Japan is cautiously moving to ease diplomatic tensions by engaging in brief discussions with China and Russia. During the ASEAN summit in Manila, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi had informal exchanges with his counterparts from these countries, indicating a potential thaw in relations.
Motegi reported a short conversation with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, characterizing it as a casual dialogue concerning bilateral relations and underscoring the necessity of ongoing talks for regional stability. However, China contested the occurrence of any such meeting or planned interaction.
Additionally, the Japanese foreign minister acknowledged a brief interaction with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. This marked the first known diplomatic contact between Japan and Russia since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with discussions centered around bilateral relations and regional concerns.
Despite these renewed diplomatic engagements, Japan remains firm in its support for Ukraine and maintains its sanctions against Russia. Analysts emphasize the importance of continued dialogue for managing bilateral issues while cautioning that these interactions should not compromise Japan’s international commitments.